Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Three pieces of legislation were agreed with the social partners, which my colleague, the Minister of State, brought forward. One is the Employment Law Compliance Bill, which has been read a Second Time and will be facilitated on Committee Stage by the committee.

The industrial relations Bill is with the social partners for consideration and once that has been completed, which I hope will be next week, we will be in a position to publish the Bill. There are two agency Bills. The agency regulation Bill is ready for publication. As has been indicated and agreed when the Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, negotiated the agency workers directive on behalf of the Government, it will take at least two years for its enactment on the basis that very careful consideration, discussion and deliberation need to take place with the unions on the matter.

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